Game revenue up 8% in Australia in 2009

Sales on track to beat record figures achieved last year

Retail sales for video and computer games and hardware in Australia look set to outperform last year's record total of AUD 2 billion (USD 1.8 million). Data tracked until the end of September show the country's market is up 8.3 per cent on the same period of 2008.

According to market research group GfK Retail and Technology Australia, sales of console hardware have risen 10 per cent on last year, and game sales are up five per cent. Spending over the Christmas period is also expected to be buoyant.

Ron Curry, CEO of the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association said: "Christmas will see IGEA members delivering a number of highly anticipated games, along with some surprises, which should see sales surpass the records set in 2008,"

Family console games now account for the highest percentage of games sold in Australia, making up 32 per cent of the total. They're followed by action games at 13 per cent. 67 per cent of all games sales came from games rated G or PG, indicating the popularity of family friendly titles.

"Australia's interactive games industry continues to see healthy growth now that video and computer gaming has become as mainstream in popularity as watching television or surfing the net," added Curry.

Sign up for The UK Publishing & Retail newsletter and get the best of GamesIndustry.biz in your inbox.